Baroque

The Gabrieli Consort is regularly heard at major festivals and concert halls throughout Europe and the USA. The ensemble is well known for its vivid and moving readings of the Bach masterworks, often given with chamber-sized forces. The Gabrielis continue to perform their own concert series at the Christ Church, Spitalfields, one of the most beautiful examples of baroque architecture in Europe.

Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra was founded by Ton Koopman in 1979. The group consists of internationally renowned baroque specialists who meet up several times a year and work together to prepare and perform new exciting programmes.

Minerva is a flexible chamber ensemble focussing chiefly on baroque and classical repertoire, involving period harps, flutes and recorders, with 'a brilliant virtuosic display of rhythms and astonishing technique', 'subtle sounds' and 'passionate interpretation' (Eastern Daily Press). Minerva gives performances not only in concert and recital halls, but also at private weddings and parties.

Charivari Agréable  is an Oxford based baroque ensemble offering 'a new and very exciting phase of the early music revival, one that enriches the existing repertory and can bring us ever closer to the spirit of the original music' (Gramophone).

The Oxford Lent Concerts began in 2006 with a full performance of the Biber Mystery Sonatas spread over six weeks during Lent, in the Queens College Chapel, Oxford.  For each concert an artist created a modern-day 'Icon' to resonate with the themes being explored in the music.  Heather and various other local baroque musicians performed in these events, which proved a hige success, and by popular demand she has helped to organise a concert series during Lent every year since.  The musicians and artists, and everyone else involved give their time freely, and all proceeds are given to charity.

Jazz

Allen Beechey's Bright Stars of Jazz is a highly successful seven piece jazz band that'has taken the classic jazz scene by storm' (Teignmouth Festival Brochure). The ensemble is in great demand for clubs and jazz festivals nationally and internationally. Bright Stars album Bridging the Gap was ranked in the top 25 CD recordings of 2002 by Jazz Review Magazine.

John Petters Swing Band  plays new quintet arrangements of repertoire from the Swing Band era, catering for a young audience keen to experiment with Jump Jive dancing.

Belle Musette plays traditional French café music on accordian, bass and guitar. Foxtrots and tangos are combined Edith Piaf and Charles Trenet songs and other popular tunes from bygone Paris.

Chamber Music

OXUS is an exciting, vibrant and accomplished string quartet, specialising in contemporary repertoire and giving regular recitals and workshops in schools and colleges.

The Blagrove Quartet concentrates on core classical repertoire. It is a community spirited string quartet, giving concerts in aid of charity.

Serenata is a string quartet specialising in music for weddings, parties and functions.

The Boxbury Trio is a newly formed ensemble committed to exploring and performing repertoire from the piano trio canon.